Influential Russian journalist Hadzhimurad Kamalov was was shot dead on Thursday - a day dedicated to the commemoration of Russia's murdered journalists.

Kamalov was the founder of a newspaper in Dagestan, Chernovik, that regularly reported on government corruption. He was also the executive director of an organisation called Svoboda Slova (Freedom of Expression).

Kamalov, who was killed as he left the paper's office, was shot 14 times, said Galina Sidorova, chair of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism in Russia and vice-chair of the executive board of the International Press Institute (IPI).

She said: "This disgusting crime was committed exactly at the end of the memorial day, when journalist organisations all over Russia gave tribute to colleagues who perished due to their work in the last 20 years...

"He is the fourth journalist killed in Russia since the beginning of 2011. And that confirms the disgraceful status of Russia as a territory dangerous for journalists."

According to the IPI's death watch, 40 journalists have been killed in Russia since 2000. In the majority of these cases, there have not been any prosecutions.